Fact Friday - Farewell, Anita!

After 23 years and 3 months of working at Willow Creek Pediatrics as Dr. Ashton's nurse, Anita has decided to retire and today is her last day! She has big plans to get some projects around her house and yard done. She will also spend some time traveling to Idaho, Arizona and Colorado to spend time with her family. She has lots of things to get caught up on and keep her busy, so she is looking forward to this time off. Anita's favorite part of her job here at Willow Creek has been working with Dr. Ashton and getting to know is his patients so well. She is going to miss her work family!

While we are sure we will be seeing a lot of Anita, as she has plans to stop by and visit every once in a while, her absence will still be felt in the office! We love you and will miss you "Grandma Rabbit"!

Allergy Season is here!

We have received many phone calls lately with parents concerned about allergies. This odd weather pattern has caused for an abnormal spring and allergies are here stronger than ever. Here are some quick tips about allergies and several links to find out more information on treatment.
Allergy describes a condition involving the immune system that causes sneezing and itching, chronic rashes, wheezing or even life threatening allergic reactions(AAP). The more you know about allergies, the symptoms, causes and treatments --the more prepared you will be to help your child.

FACTS
•Some 50 million Americans have allergies (about 1 in 5 people in this country).
•The most common type of allergy is hay fever (allergic rhinitis
•More than 17 million Americans have asthma, and about one-fourth of these are younger than 18 years. Asthma accounts for about 4,000 deaths a year.
•Seventy to 80% of school-aged children with asthma also have allergies, which are among the most common triggers for asthma, closely tied with viral respiratory infections.
•If one parent has allergies, there’s a 25% chance that a child will also be allergic. The risk is more than doubled to 60% to 70% if both parents have allergies.
Many aspects of allergies, eczema, and asthma still are not fully understood. But advances in the diagnosis and treatment of these disorders are helping millions of sufferers. (2011 AAP) Click here for the full article

What is an allergy?
An allergy is not a disease but a description of a way that the immune system reacts. Allergies happen when the part of the body that fights off illnesses overreacts to a usually harmless substance called an allergen that is breathed in, eaten, injected, or touched.

What causes allergies?
Pollen from trees, grasses, weeds, molds, dust mites, animal dander, foods or medicines and insect stings.

How can we tell the difference between Allergies or cold?
Allergies usually have these symptoms:
~itchy, runny nose with thin, clear nasal discharge and/or a stuffy nose.
~itchy watery eyes
~repeated sneezing and itching of the nose, eyes or skin that last for a few weeks or months
~no fever
~often seasonal symptoms
Cold symptoms usually have these symptoms:
~stuffy nose
~nasal discharge that is clear or colored and thick that last 3-10 days with or without a fever
~occasionally sneezing
~Feeling sick, tired or listless and having a poor appetite

How can you help your child?
Identifying and avoiding the things that your child is allergic to is best. If you child has an allergic condition try the following:
~Keep windows closed during the pollen season, especially on dry, windy days when pollen counts are higher
~Keep the house clean and dry to reduce mold and dust mites
~Avoid having pets and indoor plants
~Avoid those things that you know cause allergic reactions in your child
~Prevent anyone from smoking anywhere near your child, especially in your home or car
~See your pediatrician for safe and effective medicine that can be used to help alleviate or prevent allergy symptoms

Here are a few more links to websites that you may find helpful

http://www.kidsallergy.org/
http://www.healthychildren.org/
http://www.aap.org/healthtopics/asthma.cfm

**info from 2011 AAP Patient Information sheet
**Facts from healthychildren.org with link to full article

Fact Friday-New Willow Creek Policies!

Effective July 1, 2011, patients who are self pay (uninsured) or have a high deductible insurance plan will be required to pay $50 at the time of your appointment to go towards the cost of that day's visit. Along with the implementation of this policy, if you have a past due balance on your account, you will be asked to pay your balance at check in as well.

With the new health care laws going into effect, many insurances no longer require a copay for preventative care (well child exams and vaccines). Please contact your insurance company prior to your visit if you are unsure of your insurance policy requirements.

If you ever have any questions regarding your statements from Wasatch Pediatrics, feel free to contact our billing office at (801) 947-0830 or via e-mail at accountservices@wasatchpeds.net. They will be happy to answer any questions you may have!

Have a happy and safe Memorial Day weekend!

Memorial Day

The doctors and staff of Willow Creek Pediatrics would like to wish our patients and their families a happy and safe Memorial Day weekend!

As with every holiday, there will be a doctor available on Memorial Day to see patients with urgent medical problems. We will book patients in consecutive order and stay until our latest scheduled patient is seen. If you need an appointment or need medical advice, please feel free to contact the office after 9:30 am that day! And as always, there is always a doctor available to speak to if you need immediate medical advice!

Awesome Insect Repellent Info!

Memorial Weekend is quickly approaching and many people probably have camping trips planned, or have big plans to spend a lot of time outside (hopefully the sun will come out for us!) Along with camping and outdoors season comes many many questions about insect repellent. Nobody wants those pesky critters hanging around and chomping on their kids or on them!


The following is a link to an article from Consumer Research that provides an insect repellent review and what ingredients to look for in insect repellents:

http://www.consumersearch.com/insect-repellent/review

This article is provided by the CDC (Centers for Disease Control) and provides some great answers to frequently asked questions about insect repellent:

http://www.cdc.gov/ncidod/dvbid/westnile/qa/insect_repellent.htm

If you are looking for a natural alternative to manufactured insect repellent (some of them do smell pretty awful!), this article provides an awesome alternative to what is sold in the stores:

http://www.npr.org/2011/04/18/135468567/repelling-bugs-with-the-essence-of-grapefruit?sc=emaf

If you ever have questions about what to look for in insect repellents for your child, please do not hesitate in contacting your physician!

Fact Friday: National Kids to Parks Day is May 21

To spotlight the importance of outdoor activity, tomorrow May 21st is National Kids to Park Day. The AAP is a partner in National Kids to Parks Day, a new campaign from the National Park Trust (NPT).

The purpose of the day is to mobilize children across the country for a nationwide park "play-in." Thousands of children already have committed to visit a national, state or local park on May 21 by signing up at NPT’s Buddy Bison Web site. The site includes resources for families for healthy, outdoor living. Kids are encouraged to participate in social media around the event.

We are hopeful for good weather tomorrow so try and get out and visit a national park, or a park in your community. Encourage play and the outdoors in the same day!

For more information about National Kids to Parks Day, visit www.parktrust.org/
Here are a few more links to check out
http://www.aap.org/advocacy/releases/KidstoParks.htm
http://www.buddybison.org

Be prepared this summer: Pool Safety

We know right now it seems like the sun will never come out! However, soon your child will be wanting to go play outside. We thought we would give you some great tips about "Pool Safety" as you make plans for the summer months. In the next few weeks we will be giving you several Tips for Summer and if we can help with a specific topic, please let us know.

Pool Safety Tips-From the AAP

Never leave children alone in or near the pool or spa, even for a moment.

Install a fence at least 4 feet high around all four sides of the pool. The fence should not have openings or protrusions that a young child could use to get over, under, or through.

Make sure pool gates open out from the pool, and self-close and self-latch at a height children can't reach.

If the house serves as the fourth side of a fence surrounding a pool, install an alarm on the exit door to the yard and the pool.

Keep rescue equipment (a shepherd's hook - a long pole with a hook on the end - and life preserver) and a portable telephone near the pool. Choose a shepherd’s hook and other rescue equipment made of fiberglass or other materials that do not conduct electricity.

Avoid inflatable swimming aids such as “floaties.” They are not a substitute for approved life vests and can give children and parents a false sense of security.

Children ages 1 to 4 may be at a lower risk of drowning if they have had some formal swimming instruction. However, there is no evidence that swimming lessons or water survival skills courses can prevent drowning in babies younger than 1 year of age.

The decision to enroll a 1- to 4-year-old child in swimming lessons should be made by the parent and based on the child’s developmental readiness, but swim programs should never be seen as “drown proofing” a child of any age.

Whenever infants or toddlers are in or around water, an adult – preferably one who knows how to swim and perform CPR – should be within arm’s length, providing “touch supervision.

Avoid entrapment: Suction from pool and spa drains can trap a swimmer underwater. Do not use a pool or spa if there are broken or missing drain covers. Ask your pool operator if your pool or spa’s drains are compliant with the Pool and Spa Safety Act. If you have a swimming pool or spa, ask your pool service representative to update your drains and other suction fitting with anti-entrapment drain covers and other devices or systems. See PoolSafely.gov for more information on the Virginia Graeme Baker Pool and Spa Safety Act

Large inflatable above-ground pools have become increasingly popular for backyard use. Children may fall in if they lean against the soft side of an inflatable pool. Although such pools are often exempt from local pool fencing requirements, it is essential that they be surrounded by an appropriate fence just as a permanent pool would be so that children cannot gain unsupervised access.

To read more about this article Click here
Other websites to check out
http://www.poolsafely.gov/
http://www.cpsc.gov/cpscpub/pubs/chdrown.html
http://www.abcpoolsafety.org/

Source: http://www.aap.org/family/tipppool.htm